August 22, 2023 - This bottle showed better - the least VA of the three I purchased at auction. This is a pretty large-scaled, burly, California Pinot, but not over the top. This is not really losing fruit at all, so should keep in the cellar for a while to come. Doubt it will "improve", as it is probably not as good as it was in its youth - Burg aficionados will probably not like this much.
July 29, 2023 - Spent more time with this bottle. Definitely elevated VA going on here that I'm not really that fond of. Otherwise, a decent aged Cali Pinot.
July 15, 2023 - Recent auction purchase - 1st of 3 bottles.
Opened this to accompany roasted salmon. I've had only one Rhys Pinot before, a 2013 SCM that I opened in August of 2020. This was not nearly as good as that wine, but was good Pinot, and an interesting drink. Abundant spice notes points to quite a bit of oak influence. Very intense acidity, maybe some elevated VA at play here. Very California-esque with good, mature ripe Pinot flavors.
November 24, 2022 - From magnum. This has held up well. No fireworks, but it showed nice mature red fruit, with adequate acidity.
February 12, 2022 - Similar to my previous note.
February 1, 2022 - The cork shows zero seepage. In the glass the color is deep red, slight garnet at the edges. Sweet red fruits on the nose. The palate hits with bright acidity, fine tannins, and a hint of cola. Lovely finish. Still very youthful. Drink now or whenever you want.
December 14, 2018 - Pure red cherry with a bit of spice and a soupçon of menthol, lovely and nearly impossible to stop drinking.
October 15, 2017 - Sharp cherries and and stawbrrries. Finishes with some acidity.
July 24, 2017 - Absolutely gorgeous and showing no signs of fading anytime soon. Cherry, raspberry, cola, spices, flowers, forest floor. Still loaded with fruit, the earthy tones are in the background, so I believe this has several years of exhuberance left. Super supple with glossy tannins, crunchy acidity, and slight lingering stems on the finish. Give this another five years. Seriously.
April 8, 2016 - I liked this wine. It was a youthful 10 years old, with lovely raspberry and cherry fruit flavors, a little cranberry, some vanilla, earth and forest floor. We had it with grilled Atlantic salmon and wild rice, and it was a good pairing. We paid $20 on close-out: very good QPR for that. Jen was less fond of it than I was, but I liked its somewhat understated tone. I'd drink now with a great meal.